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Sntmtal  nf  Ammnm 

X.  QHnrb  (^uartrr,  Kumbrr  3 


1916 


JOSEPH    SMITH 
Founder  of  the  Church  of  the  Latter  Day  Salnti 


JOSEPH    SMITH,    THE    SECOND 
He  became  President  of  the  Reorganized  Church  of  the  Latter  Day  Saints  in   1860. 


MAI'ISi'N    SMITH 

i'hrl«t  »f  I.uttrr  Day  8»lnln 


- 


SIDNEY   RIGDON 


OI.IVKH     .-HWIIKUV.      I'AVII'      WHITMM:        AXIl      MAllTIX      IIAKKIS,       KNOWN 
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0f  Matter  lag  faints 

BY 
HEMAN  C.  SMITH 

Authorized  Historian  of  the  Reorganized  Church  of 

Jesus  Christ  of  the  Latter  Day  Saints;  Editor  of  The 

Journal  of  History,  Lamoni,  Iowa;  a  Vice-President  of 

The  National  Historical  Society 

| HE  FOLLOWING  article  presents  a  very  interesting 
historical  account  of  the  dramatic  events  and  perilous 
experiences  connected  with  the  early  appearance  of  the 
Latter  Day  Saints  successively  in  the  States  of  New 
York,  Ohio,  Missouri,  Illinois,  and  Iowa.  It  has  been 
prepared  by  the  official  Historian  of  the  Church  or- 
ganization with  headquarters  at  Lamoni,  and  therefore  gives 
an  authoritative  narration  of  its  rise  and  development.  Special 
interest  appears  in  this  account  of  the  history  and  views  of  a  people 
who  very  often  have  not  been  distinguished  by  the  general  public  from 
the  Latter  Day  Saints  with  headquarters  at  Salt  Lake  City. 

The  Editors  of  The  Journal  of  American  History  consider  this 
article  an  important  study  in  the  history  of  the  Middle  West  of  the 
United  States,  a  considerable  part  of  whose  settlement  was  due  to 
or  connected  with  the  pioneers  of  the  Latter  Day  Saints.  From  this 
view-point,  the  record  of  their  early  difficulties  and  achievements, 
together  with  the  statement  of  the  convictions  which  influenced  their 
settlement  of  the  Middle  West,  possesses  a  decided  value  to  all  students 
of  American  history. 

The  Editors. 


[481] 


THE  JOURNAL  OF  AMERICAN  HISTORY 

[HIS  ORGANIZATION  had  its  origin  April  6,  1830,  at 
Fayette,  Seneca  County,  New  York.  Its  charter  mem- 
bers were  only  six  in  number,  viz. :  Joseph  Smith,  Oli- 
ver Cowdery,  Hyrum  Smith,  David  Whitmer,  Samuel 
H.  Smith,  and  Peter  Whitmer,  Junior,  each  of  them 
under  thirty  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  organi- 
zation. 

The  Smiths  and  Cowdery  were  of  old  New  England  colonial  fam- 
ilies. The  Smiths  were  descended  from  Robert  Smith,  who  came  from 
England  and  settled  at  Topsfield,  Massachusetts,  in  1638.  These  three 
brothers  were  of  the  sixth  generation,  inclusive,  from  Robert,  and 
Cowdery  was  of  the  seventh  generation  from  William  Cowdery,  of 
the  family  of  Lord  Cowdery  of  England,  who  settled  near  Lynn,  Mas- 
sachusetts, about  the  same  time  that  Robert  Smith  came  to  America. 

The  Whitmers  were  from  a  German  family,  who  settled  in  an 
early  day  near  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  subsequently  the  father 
of  these  two  brothers,  Peter  Whitmer,  Senior,  removed  to  New  York. 
All  of  these  families  were  of  high  respectability  as  far  back  as  records 
trace  them,  and  their  records  indicate  their  prominence  in  civil  and 
military  service. 

The  organization  established  by  these  six  young  men  was  pecu- 
liar in  this,  that  they  claimed  more  direct  communication  from  God 
than  the  reformers  had  done,  and,  as  a  result  of  this  inspiration, 
they  provided  for  an  organization  after  the  ancient  order,  with  apos- 
tles, seventies,  prophets,  evangelists,  bishops,  pastors,  teachers,  dea- 
cons, and  other  officers,  some  to  look  after  the  general  interests  of 
the  church  and  some  to  attend  to  the  local  demands,  but  all  to  teach 
the  gospel  principles  taught  by  ancient  apostles  and  saints,  viz. :  faith, 
repentance,  baptisms,  laying  on  of  hands,  resurrection  of  the  dead 
and  eternal  judgment,  and  all  other  principles  growing  out  of  or  apper- 
taining to  these. 

Among  other  divine  revelations  or  manifestations  which  Joseph 
Smith  claimed  to  receive  were  angelic  visitations  and  manifestations 
commencing  as  early  as  1820  when  he  was  in  his  fifteenth  year. 
Through  these  manifestations  he  was  made  acquainted  with  the  fact 
that  in  a  hill  near  the  home  of  his  father,  a  few  miles  south  of  Palmyra, 
New  York,  were  hidden  some  gold  plates  upon  which  were  engraven 
the  historical  and  doctrinal  records  of  the  prehistoric  nations  of  Amer- 
ica. Finally  he  was  permitted  to  remove  these  plates  from  their  rest- 
ing place  in  what  was  called  the  Hill  Cumorah,  where  they  had  lain 

[482] 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  LATTER  DAY  SAINTS 

since  about  420  A.  D.  He  was  permitted  to  obtain  possession  of  these 
plates,  and  by  the  power  of  God,  as  believed,  he  was  enabled  through 
^he  ancient  instrument  of  the  "Urim  and  Thummim,"  found  with  the 
plates,  to  translate  the  engravings  into  the  English  language,  and  pub- 
lish them  in  1829  in  book  form  called  the  "Book  of  Mormon."  After 
the  translation  and  before  the  publication,  three  others  bore  testimony 
as  follows: 

"Be  it  known  unto  all  nations,  kindreds,  tongues,  and  people,  unto 
whom  this  work  shall  come,  that  we,  through  the  grace  of  God  the 
Father,  and  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  have  seen  the  plates  which  contain 
this  record,  which  is  a  record  of  the  people  of  Nephi,  and  also  of  the 
Lamanites,  their  brethren,  and  also  of  the  people  of  Jared,  who  came 
from  the  tower  of  which  hath  been  spoken :  and  we  also  know  that 
they  have  been  translated  by  the  gift  and  power  of  God,  for  his  voice 
hath  declared  it  unto  us ;  wherefore  we  know  of  a  surety,  that  the 
work  is  true.  And  we  also  testify  that  we  have  seen  the  engravings 
which  are  upon  the  plates ;  and  they  have  been  shewn  unto  us  by  the 
power  of  God,  and  not  of  man.  And  we  declare  with  words  of  sober- 
ness, that  an  angel  of  God  came  down  from  heaven,  and  lie  brought 
and  laid  before  our  eyes,  that  we  beheld  and  saw  the  plates,  and  the 
engravings  thereon;  and  we  know  that  it  is  by  the  grace  of  God  the 
Father,  and  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  we  beheld  and  bear  record 
that  these  things  are  true :  and  it  is  marvelous  in  our  eyes,  nevertheless, 
the  voice  of  the  Lord  commanded  us  that  we  should  bear  record  of  it ; 
wherefore,  to  be  obedient  unto  the  commandments  of  God,  we  bear 
testimony  of  these  things.  And  we  know  that  if  we  are  faithful  in 
Christ,  we  shall  rid  our  garments  of  the  blood  of  all  men,  and  be  found 
spotless  before  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ,  and  shall  dwell  with  him 
eternally  in  the  heavens.  And  the  honor  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the 
Son,  and  to  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  is  one  God.  Amen. 

"OLIVER  COWDERY. 

"DAVID  WHITMER. 

"MARTIN  HARRIS." 

In  addition  to  this,  Joseph  Smith  showed  the  plates  to  eight  wit- 
nesses whose  testimony  with  the  testimony  of  the  three  was  published 
with  the  first  edition  of  the  book  and  with  every  other  edition  since 
issued. 

The  Book  of  Mormon  purports  to  give  account  of  three  distinct 
colonies,  all  coming  to  the  Western  Continent  from  the  Orient,  the 
first,  in  point  of  time,  at  the  confounding  of  the  languages  at  the 

[483] 


THE  JOURNAL  OF  AMERICAN  HISTORY 

building  of  the  Tower  of  Babel,  another  six  hundred  years  B.  C,  and 
the  third  at  the  time  Zedekiah,  King  of  Judah,  was  carried  captive  into 
Babylon.  A  very  fair  idea  of  the  claims  of  the  Book  of  Mormon  is 
obtained  from  the  Introduction  published  in  the  book  as  follows: 

"AN  ACCOUNT  WRITTEN  BY  THE  HAND  OF  MORMON 
UPON  PLATES  TAKEN  FROM  THE  PLATES  OF  NEPHI. 

"Wherefore,  it  is  an  abridgment  of  the  record  of  the  people  of 
Nephi,  and  also  of  the  Lamanites ;  written  to  the  Lamanites,  who  are 
a  remnant  of  the  house  of  Israel ;  and  also  to  Jew  and  Gentile ;  writ- 
ten by  way  of  commandment,  and  also  by  the  spirit  of  prophecy  and 
of  revelation.  Written  and  sealed  up,  and  hid  unto  the  Lord,  that 
they  might  not  be  destroyed;  to  come  forth  by  the  gift  and  power  of 
God  unto  the  interpretation  thereof;  sealed  by  the  hand  of  Moroni, 
and  hid  up  unto  the  Lord,  to  come  forth  in  due  time  by  the  way  of 
Gentile;  the  interpretation  thereof  by  the  gift  of  God. 

"An  abridgment  taken  from  the  Book  of  Ether;  also,  which  is 
a  record  of  the  people  of  Jared;  who  were  scattered  at  the  time  the 
Lord  confounded  the  language  of  the  people,  when  they  were  build- 
ing a  tower  to  get  to  heaven:  which  is  to  shew  unto  the  remnant  of 
the  house  of  Israel  what  great  things  the  Lord  hath  done  for  their 
fathers ;  and  that  they  may  know  the  covenants  of  the  Lord,  that  they 
are  not  cast  off  forever;  and  also  to  the  convincing  of  the  Jew  and 
Gentile  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the  Eternal  God,  manifesting  himself 
unto  all  nations.  And  now  if  there  are  faults,  they  are  the  mistakes 
of  men;  wherefore,  condemn  not  the  things  of  God,  that  ye  may  be 
found  spotless  at  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ." 

The  infant  church  increased  rapidly  until  in  two  months  after 
organization,  it  had  increased  five  hundred  per  cent.,  and  at  the  first 
conference,  in  June,  1830,  there  were  about  thirty  members.  The  in- 
crease continued  with  wonderful  rapidity.  In  September  following,  a 
mission  was  undertaken  to  the  far  west,  with  the  leading  purpose  of 
presenting  the  message  to  the  American  Indians,  or,  as  called  in  the 
Book  of  Mormon,  Lamanites,  and  of  making  them  acquainted  with 
the  Book  of  Mormon,  as  the  record  of  their  fathers,  but  frequently 
presenting  the  message  to  others.  The  members  of  this  commission 
were  Oliver  Cowdery,  Parley  P.  Pratt,  Ziba  Peterson,  and  Peter  Whit- 
mer,  Junior. 

[484] 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  LATTER  DAY  SAINTS 

In  the  Western  Reserve,  Ohio,  near  Mentor,  they  called  upon  a 
former  friend  of  Pratt's,  a  very  popular  minister  of  the  Disciples 
Church,  Sidney  Rigdon.  At  this  meeting  there  was  presented  to  Mr. 
Rigdon,  for  the  first  time,  a  copy  of  the  Book  of  Mormon,  as  the  evi- 
dence abundantly  shows.  This  shows  the  absolute  absurdity  of  the 
report  which  afterwards  gained  current,  that  Sidney  Rigdon  assisted 
in  getting  up  the  Book  of  Mormon,  using  as  a  basis  the  stolen  manu- 
script of  Solomon  Spalding.  The  Book  had  been  in  print  over  a  year 
before  he  saw  it,  and  before  he  ever  met  an  adherent  of  this  faith. 

At  Mentor,  Kirtland  Mills,  and  vicinity,  were  found  several  men 
who  afterwards  became  prominent  actors  in  the  movement,  among 
whom  were  Sidney  Rigdon  and  Doctor  Frederick  G.  Williams,  who 
subsequently  became  counselors  to  the  President  of  the  Church,  Jo- 
seph Smith,  Orson  Hyde,  Luke  S.  Johnson,  Lyman  E.  Johnson,  John 
F.  Boynton,  and  Lyman  Wight,  who  subsequently  became  members 
of  the  quorum  of  Twelve  Apostles,  and  Edward  Partridge  who  be- 
came the  first  presiding  bishop  of  the  Church.  Bancroft  f  jhr- 

Joseph  Smith  and  others  soon  followed  these  missionaries  t<> 
Kirtland,  Ohio,  and  it  soon  was  recognized  as  the  headquarters  of 
the  church.  Here  the  organization  took  on  a  more  perfect  and  per- 
manent form.  The  first  Presidency  of  three,  the  quorum  of  Twelve 
Apostles,  the  first  quorum  of  Seventy,  the  high  council,  the  presiding 
bishopric,  and  several  other  quorums,  were  formed,  and  a  fine  build- 
ing known  as  the  Kirtland  Temple,  which  still  stands,  was  erected. 

In  the  fall  of  1830  the  four  young  missionaries  who  formed  this 
nucleus,  accompanied  by  Doctor  Frederick  G.  Williams,  moved  on  west- 
ward, and  early  in  1831,  after  much  hardship  incident  to  traveling  on 
foot  through  the  snows  of  a  severe  winter,  arrived  at  Independence, 
Missouri,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  where  Kansas  City  now  stands,  entered 
into  their  mission  among  the  Indians.  They  were  well  received  by 
the  Delaware  and  other  tribes,  but  through  the  opposition  of  mission- 
aries of  other  faiths  their  work  was  interfered  with.  They  returned 
to  Independence  and  from  thence  sent  Mr.  Pratt  of  their  number  back 
to  the  church  in  the  east  to  report  progress.  The  remaining  four 
continued  at  Independence  until  they  were  joined  by  several  of  the 
leading  authorities  of  the  church,  thus  forming  another  nucleus  for 
church  building. 

Here  a  spot  was  dedicated  for  the  future  building  of  the  Temple 
of  Zion.  Members  of  the  church  from  the  east  soon  began  to  gather 

[485] 


THE  JOURNAL  OF  AMERICAN  HISTORY 

to  this  place  in  great  numbers.  These  people  coming  mostly  from  the 
east,  and  being  strongly  in  favor  of  free  schools  and  opposed  to  human 
slavery,  excited  the  enmity  of  the  pioneer  settlers  who  came  mostly 
from  the  slave  states,  especially  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  and  Virginia. 
This,  added  to  the  divergence  in  religious  opinions,  caused  friction, 
bitterness,  and  violence.  It  is  too  long  a  story,  and  attended  with  too 
many  complications  to  relate  within  the  limits  of  this  article,  but  it 
resulted  in  the  lawless  element  arising,  organizing,  and  violently  driv- 
ing the  Saints  from  the  County  of  Jackson,  in  the  autumn  of  1833 
and  the  winter  following.  They  took  refuge  in  adjoining  counties, 
principally  in  Clay. 

This  was  too  near  their  old  enemies  of  Jackson  who  lost  no  op- 
portunity to  agitate  the  minds  of  the  people  of  Clay  until  trouble 
arose.  In  1836,  as  a  means  of  bringing  about  better  conditions, 
Honorable  Alexander  W.  Doniphan,  then  a  member  of  the  Missouri 
Legislature,  introduced  a  bill  providing  for  the  organization  of  Cald- 
well County.  This  bill  was  passed  with  but  little  opposition,  with  the 
tacit  understanding  that  the  church  should  occupy  the  county,  buying 
out  all  the  settlers  who  did  not  care  to  live  among  them,  and  should 
not  settle  in  adjoining  counties  without  the  expressed  consent  of  two- 
thirds  of  the  residents  of  the  township  where  they  desired  to  settle. 

The  Saints  faithfully  carried  out  the  stipulations  of  the  agree- 
ment by  buying  out  all  who  would  sell  in  Caldwell  County.  They  also 
established  two  settlements  under  the  agreement  of  the  two-thirds 
expressed  consent  provision,  one  in  Daviess  County  which  they  called 
Adam-ondi-Ahman,  and  one  at  Dewitt  in  Carroll  County. 

In  Caldwell,  the  town  site  of  Far  West  was  located,  August  8, 
1836,  and  made  the  county-seat.  The  town  was  almost  exclusively 
owned  by  the  members  of  the  church  and  they  were  very  prosperous, 
but  religious  and  political  prejudice  continued,  with  persecution  some- 
times assuming  the  form  of  violence. 

False  and  exaggerated  reports  were  circulated  which  so  influenced 
Governor  L.  W.  Boggs  that  he  issued  an  order  to  the  militia  to  banish 
the  Saints  from  the  State  or  exterminate  them.  This  so  encouraged 
the  lawless  element  that,  on  October  30,  1838,  a  mob  made  an  assault 
on  a  settlement  at  Haun's  Mill,  a  few  miles  east  of  Far  West,  and 
killed  or  mortally  wounded  seventeen  persons,  none  of  whom  had  ever 
borne  arms  against  their  assassins.  On  the  same  day  the  militia  ap- 
proached Far  West  and,  under  flag  of  truce,  asked  for  an  interview 
with  Joseph  Smith,  Parley  P.  Pratt,  Sidney  Rigdon,  George  W.  Rob- 

[486] 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  LATTER  DAY  SAINTS 

inson,  and  Lyman  Wight.  This  request  was  granted,  but  when  these 
gentlemen  entered  the  camp  of  the  militia  they  were  made  prisoners. 
Then  Hyrum  Smith  and  Amasa  Lyman  were  brought  into  camp  and 
placed  under  guard  with  the  other  five.  Though  only  one  of  these 
men,  ris. :  Colonel  Wight,  was  in  any  way  connected  with  the  mili- 
tary, they  were  promptly  court-martialed  and  sentenced  to  be  shot,  as 
the  following  order  will  show : 

"BRIGADIER-GENERAL  DONIPHAN;  SIR:  You  will  take 
Joseph  Smith  and  the  other  prisoners  into  the  public  square  of  Far 
West,  and  shoot  them  at  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

"SAMUEL  D.  LUCAS, 
"Major-General  Commanding." 

To  this  General  Doniphan  with  characteristic  courage  replied : 

"It  is  cold-blooded  murder.  I  will  not  obey  your  order.  My 
Brigade  shall  march  for  Liberty  to-morrow  morning,  at  eight  o'clock; 
and  if  you  execute  those  men,  I  will  hold  you  responsible  before  an 
earthly  tribunal,  so  help  me  God. 

"A.  W.  DONIPHAN,  Brigadier-General." 

During  the  winter  following,  the  orders  of  Governor  Boggs  were 
cruelly  executed,  and  the  members  of  the  church  with  much  suffering 
and  destitution  were  driven  from  the  State,  finding  shelter  in  Illinois. 
The  leaders  were  held  as  prisoners  in  Independence,  Richmond,  and 
Liberty,  receiving  several  ex  parte  trials,  until  the  following  April, 
when  they  were  permitted  to  escape  and  join  their  families  and  friends 
in  Illinois. 

The  action  of  Doniphan  so  disconcerted  Lucas  and  his  associates 
that  the  sentence  of  death  was  not  carried  out.  Subsequently  a  sen- 
tence of  death  was  pronounced  at  Richmond,  Missouri,  but  before 
executing  sentence  consultation  was  had  with  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Richard  B.  Mason,  then  in  command  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  as  to  the 
legality  of  the  procedure,  who  replied:  "It  would  be  nothing  more 
nor  nothing  less  than  cold  blooded  murder."  So  further  action  was 
a-ain  abandoned.  The  detailed  account  of  these  perilous  times  would 
be  very  thrilling  and  interesting,  but  must  not  be  undertaken  within 
the  space  of  this  article. 

They  were  hospitably  received  in  Illinois,  and  a  season  of  pros- 
perity followed,  resulting  in  building  up  the  flourishing  city  of  Nauvoo 
in  Hancock  County.  The  Missouri  agitators,  however,  continued  to 
harass  them  by  kidnapping  and  harshly  treating  their  victims,  circu- 

[487] 


THE  JOURNAL  OF  AMERICAN  HISTORY 

lating  slanderous  reports,  making  requisitions  for  arrests,  etc.,  until 
violent  persecution  was  again  prevalent,  resulting  in  the  assassination 
of  Joseph  and  Hyrum  Smith  at  Carthage,  Illinois,  June  27,  1844. 
While  at  Nauvoo  the  church  erected  a  magnificent  Temple  which  pre- 
sented an  imposing  appearance,  but  the  interior  was  never  finished. 

Opposition  from  without  and  division  within  now  brought  to  the 
church  the  most  critical  period  of  its  existence.  Enemies  drove  them 
from  the  fair  city  of  Nauvoo,  so  that  in  two  years  the  city  was  a  waste 
place  and  its  inhabitants  were  scattered  to  the  four  winds.  Aspirants 
for  leadership  were  many.  The  most  formidable  and  the  one  gaining 
by  far  the  most  adherents  was  Brigham  Young,  who,  with  his  asso- 
ciates, left  Nauvoo  in  February,  1846,  and  finally  conducted  his  ad- 
herents to  Utah  and  founded  the  City  of  Great  Salt  Lake.  In  many 
points  they  departed  from  the  original  faith  of  the  church.  The  most 
striking  departure  was  perhaps  the  introduction  of  polygamy  as  a 
tenet  of  the  church.  This  was  first  presented  August  29,  1852,  at. a 
special  conference  held  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.  In  order  to  put  the 
responsibility  of  this  doctrine  back  on  Joseph  Smith  this  document 
bore  date  of  July  12,  1843,  over  nine  years  before  its  first  public  pre- 
sentation. 

The  genuineness  and  authenticity  of  this  document  was  ques- 
tioned by  many  leading  ministers  of  the  church,  and  the  practice  of 
polygamy  denounced  as  immoral  and  corrupt. 

Proof  that  Joseph  Smith  taught  and  practiced  polygamy  is  al- 
leged by  the  people  in  Utah  has  been  demanded,  but  only  implicated 
witnesses  have  been  found  to  testify.  The  entire  absence  of  issue  by 
any  other  woman  than  his  one  wife,  Emma  Hale  Smith,  is  conclu- 
sive rebuttal  of  their  false  testimony. 

In  the  same  year  that  polygamy  was  introduced  in  Utah,  a  move- 
ment was  made  to  form  a  reorganization  of  the  elements  opposed  to 
this  and  other  innovations.  This  organization  took  more  definite 
form  in  1853.  It  was  composed  principally  of  men  who  were  active 
participants  in  the  church  during  the  days  of  its  first  President,  Jo- 
seph Smith,  and  included  several  local  church  organizations  which 
had  maintained  their  organic  identity  through  all  the  time  of  trouble 
and  doubt.  This  organization  at  once  advocated  that  the  rights  of 
Presidency  should  be  vested  in  the  son  of  Joseph  Smith,  according  to 
accepted  revelations  received  through  him.  Elder  Jason  Briggs,  who 
had  been  connected  with  the  church  during  the  administration  of  its 
first  president,  was  chosen  temporary  president  to  represent  the  law- 

[488] 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  LATTER  DAY  SAINTS 

ful  heir.  On  April  6,  1860,  Joseph  Smith,  son  of  the  de- 
ceased president,  presented  himself  to  a  conference  of  the  church 
held  at  Amboy,  Illinois,  and  was  immediately  chosen  and  ordained  to 
occupy  his  father's  place.  The  scattered  elements  and  representatives 
of  the  several  factions  rallied  to  his  support,  until  to-day  only  the  or- 
ganization with  headquarters  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  remains  to  dis- 
pute the  claims  of  the  Reorganized  Church. 

Several  times  the  claims  of  these  two  rival  organizations  have 
been  tested  in  the  Courts,  the  principal  one  being  the  famous  Temple 
Case,  where  the  Reorganized  Church,  for  the  purpose  of  quieting  ti- 
tle, brought  action  against  all  parties  having  color  of  title.  The  case 
came  before  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  Lake  County,  Ohio,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1880.  Honorable  L.  S.  Sherman  was  the  judge.  The  de- 
cision, in  part,  was  as  follows : 

"That  the  said  plaintiff,  the  Reorganized  Church  of  Jesus  Christ 
of  Latter  Day  Saints,  is  a  religious  society,  founded  and  organized 
upon  the  same  doctrines  and  tenets,  and  having  the  same  church  or- 
ganization, as  the  original  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day 
Saints,  organized  in  1830  by  Joseph  Smith,  and  was  organized  pur- 
suant to  the  constitution,  laws  and  usages  of  said  original  church,  and 
has  branches  located  in  Illinois,  Ohio,  and  other  States. 

"That  the  church  in  Utah,  the  defendant,  of  which  John  Taylor 
is  president,  has  materially  and  largely  departed  from  the  faith,  doc- 
trines, laws,  ordinances,  and  usages  of  said  original  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints,  and  has  incorporated  into  its  system  of 
faith  the  doctrines  of  celestial  marriage  and  a  plurality  of  wives,  and 
the  doctrine  of  Adam-god  worship,  contrary  to  the  laws  and  constitu- 
tion of  said  original  church. 

"And  the  Court  do  further  find  that  the  plaintiff,  the  Reorgan- 
ized Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints,  is  the  true  and  law- 
ful continuation  of,  and  successor  to  the  said  original  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints,  organized  in  1830,  and  is  entitled  in  law 
to  all  its  rights  and  property." 

The  people  of  Utah  try  to  throw  discredit  upon  the  Reorganized 
Church  by  claiming  that  there  was  no  disorganization  and  hence  no 
demand  for  a  reorganization,  but  the  foregoing  decree  not  only  makes 
plain  that  the  Utah  contingency  had  departed  from  the  original  faith, 
but  defines  wherein.  Though  other  tests  have  been  made,  no  contrary 
opinion  has  been  rendered. 

Joseph  Smith  continued  to  preside  until  his  death,  December  10, 
1914.  In  these  fifty-four  years  he  retained  the  universal  love  and  con- 


THE  JOURNAL  OF  AMERICAN  HISTORY 

fidence  of  the  people,  and  though  he  was  annually  sustained  by  vote 
of  Conference,  there  was  never  a  negative  vote. 

In  1842  Joseph  Smith  wrote  an  epitome  of  faith,  which  was  pub- 
lished in  the  Chicago  Democrat  as  follows : 

"We  believe  in  God  the  Eternal  Father,  and  in  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ,  and  in  the  Holy  Ghost. 

"We  believe  that  men  will  be  punished  for  their  own  sins,  and  not 
for  Adam's  transgression. 

"We  believe  that  through  the  atonement  of  Christ  all  mankind 
may  be  saved  by  obedience  to  the  laws  and  ordinances  of  the  gospel. 

"We  believe  that  these  ordinances  are,  ist,  Faith  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ;  2d,  Repentance;  3d,  Baptism  by  immersion  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins ;  4th,  Laying  on  of  hands  for  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

"We  believe  that  a  man  must  be  called  of  God  by  'prophecy,  and 
by  laying  on  of  hands'  by  those  who  are  in  authority  to  preach  the  gos- 
pel and  administer  in  the  ordinances  thereof. 

"We  believe  in  the  same  organization  that  existed  in  the  primitive 
church,  viz. :  Apostles,  prophets,  pastors,  teachers,  evangelists,  etc. 

"We  believe  in  the  gift  of  tongues,  prophecy,  revelation,  visions, 
healing,  interpretation  of  tongues,  etc. 

"We  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word  of  God  as  far  as  it  is  trans- 
lated correctly;  we  also  believe  the  Book  of  Mormon  to  be  the  word  of 
God. 

"We  believe  all  that  God  has  revealed,  all  that  he  does  now  reveal, 
and  we  believe  that  He  will  yet  reveal  many  great  and  important  things 
pertaining  to  the  kingdom  of  God. 

"We  believe  in  the  literal  gathering  of  Israel  and  in  the  restora- 
tion of  the  Ten  Tribes.  That  Zion  will  be  built  upon  this  continent. 
That  Christ  will  reign  personally  upon  the  earth,  and  that  the  earth 
will  be  renewed  and  receive  its  paradisaic  glory. 

"We  claim  the  privilege  of  worshiping  Almighty  God  according 
to  the  dictates  of  our  conscience,  and  allow  all  men  the  same  privilege, 
let  them  worship  how,  where  or  what  they  may. 

"We  believe  in  being  subject  to  kings,  presidents,  rulers,  and  mag- 
istrates, in  obeying,  honoring,  and  sustaining  the  law. 

"We  believe  in  being  honest,  true,  chaste,  benevolent,  virtuous, 
and  in  doing  good  to  all  men;  indeed  we  may  say  that  we  follow  the 
admonition  of  Paul,  'we  believe  all  things,  we  hope  all  things',  we  have 
endured  many  things,  and  hope  to  be  able  to  endure  all  things.  If 

[490] 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  LATTER  DAY  SAINTS 

there  is  anything  virtuous,  lovely,  or  of  good  report  or  praiseworthy, 
we  seek  after  these  things." 

The  Reorganized  Church  has  reaffirmed  the  above  without  alter- 
ation, and  because  of  recent  issues  added : 

"We  believe  that  Marriage  is  ordained  of  God ;  and  that  the  law 
of  God  provides  for  but  one  companion  in  wedlock,  for  either  man  or 
woman,  except  in  cases  of  death  or  where  the  contract  of  marriage  is 
broken  by  transgression. 

"We  believe  that  the  doctrines  of  plurality  and  a  community  of 
wives  are  heresies,  and  are  opposed  to  the  law  of  God.  THE  BOOK 
of  MORMON  says : — "Wherefore,  my  brethren,  hear  me,  and  hearken 
to  the  word  of  the  Lord:  For  there  shall  not  any  man  among  you 
have  save  it  be  ONE  WIFE,  and  concubines  he  shall  have  none,  for  I, 
the  Lord  God,  delighteth  in  the  chastity  of  women.  And  whoredoms 
are  an  abomination  before  me,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts." — Jacob  2: 

36,  37- 

Since  the  death  of  President  Joseph  Smith,  his  son,  Frederick  M. 
Smith,  has  been  installed  as  president.  The  quorums  are  in  splendid 
organic  form,  and  face  the  future  with  the  confidence  and  good  will 
of  the  people,  which  has  been  increased  with  each  succeeding  year 
under  the  presidency  of  Joseph  Smith  since  1860. 

The  legal  headquarters  of  the  church  are  at  Lamoni,  Iowa,  where 
it  maintains  a  large  publishing  house,  issuing  several  periodicals, 
books  and  tracts.  It  is  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  Iowa.  A  still 
larger  gathering,  numerically,  exists  at  Independence,  Missouri,  and 
a  branch  publishing  house  is  maintained  there.  A  college,  two  homes 
for  the  aged  and  a  children's  home  are  maintained  at  Lamoni ;  a  sani- 
tarium and  two  homes  for  the  aged  at  Independence;  and  one  home 
for  the  aged  at  Kirtland,  Ohio. 

The  personnel  of  the  General  Officers  of  the  Church  at  pres- 
ent is  as  follows:  Frederick  Madison  Smith,  President;  Elbert  A. 
Smith,  his  Counselor;  Quorum  of  Twelve  Apostles, — Gomer  T.  Grif- 
fiths, Peter  Anderson,  Francis  M.  Sheehy,  Ulyssis  W.  Greene,  Cor- 
nelius A.  Butterworth,  John  W.  Rushton,  James  F.  Curtis,  Robert 
C.  Russell,  James  E.  Kelley,  William  M.  Aylor,  Paul  M.  Hansen,  and 
James  A.  Gillen;  Presidents  of  Seventy, — Thomas  C.  Kelley,  James 
F.  Mintun,  Warren  E.  Peak,  John  A.  Davies,  Arthur  B.  Phillips, 
Elmer  E.  Long,  and  James  T.  Riley ;  Presiding  Bishop, — Benjamin  R. 
McGuire;  James  F.  Kier,  his  Counselor;  Richard  S.  Salyards,  Secre- 
tary ;  Heman  C.  Smith,  Historian ;  and  Claude  I.  Carpenter,  Recorder. 

[491] 


0f  All  tlf?  Ammraa 


DOCTOR  JULIO  PHIMPPI 

Vice-Chairman  of  the  Chilean  Delegation  at  the  Pan-American 

Scientific  Congress 

R.  VICE-PRESIDENT,  Mr.  Secretary,  Mr.  Presi- 
dent of  the  Second  Pan-American  Scientific  Congress, 
Ladies  and  Gentlemen : 

Six  years  ago  the  capital  city  of  my  country  en- 
joyed the  great  honor  of  welcoming  the  distinguished 
guests  of  all  the  Republics  of  the  continent  who  had 
assembled  to  celebrate  the  first  Pan-American  Scientific  Congress. 
To-day  we  assemble  for  the  second  time,  and  this  time  we  are  the 
guests  of  the  oldest  and  most  powerful  of  the  sister  Republics. 

The  countries  here  represented  cover  a  vast  extent  of  territory,  a 
New  World — and  rightly  so  called  because  of  the  relatively  short  pe- 
riod that  has  elapsed  since  it  was  discovered  by  the  races  of  Europe, 
and  because  it  has  given  to  the  world  a  new  concept  of  the  destiny  of 
humanity,  and  of  the  forms  of  government  which  shall  bring  humanity 
L  ever  higher  levels. 

It  is  a  fact,  and  a  fact  which  does  not  mean  a  mere  coincidence, 
and  with  reference  to  the  significance  of  which  I  wish  to  call  your 
attention,  that  all  the  States  of  the  American  Continent  possess  one 
and  the  same  form  of  government.  All  of  them  are  committed  to  those 
ideals  which  Lincoln  expressed  so  admirably  when  he  said,  "A  gov- 
ernment of  the  people,  for  the  people,  and  by  the  people."  This  noble 
and  profound  profession  of  faith  by  one  of  the  greatest  sons  of  Amer- 
ica represents  the  aspiration  of  all  the  nations  of  this  continent. 

Diverse  have  been  the  paths  which  we  have  tread  in  advancing 

[492] 


THE  KIRTLAND  TKMI-I.K 

Hullt    In    1SSS   at    Klrtland,    <  >hl<>.    it    Is    still    UN***!   »*    a    plan*    of    u 
orcanlcetl    Church    of   the    Latter    Day    Saints. 


-lifp    !•>     tin- 


m 

o  I 
2;  "_ 


PUBLISHED  BY 

THE  NATIONAL  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


ENTERED  AT  THE  POST  OFFICE  AT  GREENFIELD,!NDIANA 
AS  MAU  MATTER  OF  THE  SECOND  CLASS, 


